School dropouts fall sharply

The number of pupils dropping out of school declined with 1,970 last year. The previous year the number of dropouts in secondary education and vocational education (MBO) declined with 8,300. Minister Jet Bussemaker (Education) announced the latest figures on early school leavers today. There were a total of 25,970 dropouts last year, 1.9 percent of all students. In 2013 dropouts accounted for 2.1 percent of all students. The Ministry of Education intends to reduce the number of school leavers in 2016 to 25 thousand. At the beginning of this century 71 thousands students left school without a diploma that provides sufficient job opportunities. Bussemaker wants schools and municipalities to do more to help students facing multiple problems to finish school. Schools that work towards better education are rewarded financially.